19-year-old Chris Crocker became an instant
Internet phenomenon after his tearful video defense of Britney Spears,
which has received more than 9 million views, and 130,000 comments, on
YouTube.
Even though Crocker's videos (Crocker is his stage name) have had a -
mainly gay - cult following after he started posting video blogs on
YouTube a year ago, it wasn't until his now famous "Leave Britney Alone"
video (see below) that the mainstream discovered him.
Chris Crocker has been called "queer," "a human train wreck," the
"Britney guy," an androgynous "it" and much, much worse. But how does
the Internet star/starlet define himself?
"I'm the key to world peace," Crocker told the Associated Press.
Since his Britney defense video became a smash hit, Crocker has been
featured on late night, cable and network news and countless radio
shows. The video itself has been parodied by dozens of other YouTube
users, including actor Seth Green.
And Crocker has done it all from his bedroom in his grandparents' home
in eastern Tennessee.
He asked The Associated Press not to reveal his real name or exact
hometown because his critics can be vicious, and he doesn't want anyone
to know where he lives.
Now Crocker may finally be ready to leave his small hometown and move
into a larger city, which he says has always been his dream. It's tough
to be openly gay in a conservative Southern town, he says. There have
always been death threats, bullying and glares at his clothes and
makeup. Oh, and he's always pushing someone's buttons.
"My grandparents can't go to their church any more," said Crocker. "What
I do affects them, and I feel bad for that," he said of his family.
Crocker signed up with 44 Blue, an entertainment production company, in
May, and they have been pitching shows to several networks, including
MTV and LOGO.
"Chris first got on our radar a year ago," said Rasha Drachkovitch,
president and co-founder of 44 Blue. The company considers Crocker "a
rebel character that people will find interesting. He's going to be a TV
star."
Crocker said there wasn't much interest in him until the "Leave Britney
Alone" video hit.
"It's just sad to me it takes a Britney video" to generate mainstream
interest, he said.
Chris Crocker has been called "queer," "a human train wreck," the
"Britney guy," an androgynous "it" and much, much worse. But how does
the Internet star/starlet define himself?
The Hunk
